FindingEmo: Rec Me Some Headphones

FindingEmo 01.23.14	sup
grish 01.23.14	for the price, i'd say the ath-m50s are your best option
LambsBread 01.23.14	the unanimous decision i got in a different thread is Seinheiser
dixoncocks 01.23.14	I honestly go with the $10 skull candy buds religously. Yea they are cheap but have decent sound quality and you aren't paying for style points. Burned through a million of them but fuck it, they are $10.
grish 01.23.14	i have sennheiser momentums and they rule, but i've always thought the ath-m50s were best in the 100-200$ range. there are probably some pretty great sennheiser models too though, i don't know for sure
FindingEmo 01.23.14	yeah i've been looking into the ath-m50s, they get really good reviews. think i may go with those.
GringoSuave89 01.23.14	seriously, I go through buds like crazy. Skullcandy Ink'd are so cheap, and good quality. If you are the destroyer of headphones, just keep cheap.
FindingEmo 01.23.14	i'm not necessarily a headphone destroyer, I just haven't been impressed with sound quality in any of the headphones i've had. I'm willing to spend the money if their gonna be decent. If I spent $100+ on a pair of headphones, I'd make sure to take care of them
ILJ 01.23.14	i don't get how people actually break a pair of well made headphones. I've had my $50 sony earbuds for like 5 years now and they've seen some shit.
thisisivy 01.23.14	I have heard good things about the ATH-M50's and am interested in getting some myself. I currently use AKG K240's and those rule.
InAbsentia 01.23.14	Senns.
Rsetness9 01.23.14	For relatively cheap I'm pretty much in love with my PortaPros but for the price range you're looking at I would go for V-MODA Crossfade cans.
Hyperion1001 01.23.14	audio technica ath-m50s are your best bet
Hyperion1001 01.23.14	beyerdynamic dt-770's are better headphones but u need an amp for the ones in your price range, but if you want good cans that will last a long time look into the beyerdynamics
FindingEmo 01.23.14	I also need a pair that I can put into my receiver that I have my turntable hooked up to, would the ath-m50s do the job?
thisisivy 01.23.14	The beyerdynamics are like rabbits on your ears. Really comfy haha.
EyesWideShut 01.23.14	if you dig anything with riffs Grado SR80i's are your best bet. around $100 bucks too.
Hyperion1001 01.23.14	"I also need a pair that I can put into my receiver that I have my turntable hooked up to" yeah everything with a quarter inch will probably do that and most $100 headphones come with converters even if it doesnt you can get a 1/8" to 1/4" converter for like a dollar
thisisivy 01.23.14	Yeah I don't see why not. As far as I know all headphones come with a 1/4" jack you can take off to make it a regular tip (3mm?).
FindingEmo 01.23.14	yeah but i bought the 1/8" adapter and plugged my shitty skullcandy headphones in (their over ears) and the sound quality was just awful
Hyperion1001 01.23.14	its cause you used skullcandys
YourDarkAffected 01.23.14	ditto the audio technica ath-m50s. They're a fantastic pair for the price.
thisisivy 01.23.14	I use my AKG's currently on the 1/4" adapter and I don't have any problems. Especially when you get into recording and sound equipment, the vast majority of interfaces, mixers, etc are going to have 1/4" for headphone inputs.
Hyperion1001 01.23.14	a converter should literally never change the sound quality, its a 1/1 contact
FindingEmo 01.23.14	yeah, that's what my point was lol
Skoop 01.23.14	Idk, Audiotech is good but a little bottom heavy I thought. Right now I have Bose which is no help to you I know.
Masochist 01.23.14	"beyerdynamic dt-770's are better headphones but u need an amp for the ones in your price range, but if you want good cans that will last a long time look into the beyerdynamics" That actually depends on which version you get. If you get the 80 ohm version, an amp isn't necessary (though it might help push sound through if you're picky). If you get the 160, then yes, you'll need an amp. Either way, I enjoy my DT 770's more than I did the ATH M-50's. And now for a (probably unnecessary) headphone rant: M50's are awesome all-around cans that are a great baseline if you are breaking in to the world of slightly higher-range headphones. But you gotta know what you're looking for. For example, if you listen to a lot of bass-heavy stuff, you may be a bit disappointed in the M50's because the newer models don't get that deep bass that the older ones (apparently) did; you'd probably be better off going with DT 770's, ATH Pro 700 MKII's or Ultrasone DJ1's (also called Hi-Fi 580's). If you're more an acoustic, classical or female-vocalist listener, you'll probably want something with a lot more mids, in which case you'd be better off going with an open-backed set of cans like Grado SR80i's or Fischer Audio F-07's. Just saying, if it matters to you, a little research can go a long way. Here's a link for you: http://www.head-fi.org/a/headphone-buying-guide
Hyperion1001 01.23.14	yeah then def go with the atm-m50's if $200 is youre cap. theres still room to upgrade after those (if you want to get into amps and analog converters and stuff) but they will be a gigantic improvement over what you have then when you have money get an inexpensive digital to analog converter (if you have an aftermarket soundcard you may already have one) because they will help your stuff sound better.
thisisivy 01.23.14	I mean they are technically "studio monitor" headphones so they should be pretty flat, but I can't attest to that.
FindingEmo 01.23.14	thanks everyone, much appreciated
Hyperion1001 01.23.14	yeah masochist my point was that the only ones in his price range (sub $200) are the pro 250-ohms which you need an amp for ive got a pair of dt-990's right now because i like open back more than closed back and they are awesome
thisisivy 01.23.14	just wait till you get to studio monitors :)
FindingEmo 01.23.14	this list is generally about what I listen to, would the ath-m50s be alright for like screamo, metalcore, hardcore, post hardcore type stuff?
FindingEmo 01.23.14	oh and emo too
Masochist 01.23.14	"yeah masochist my point was that the only ones in his price range (sub $200) are the pro 250-ohms which you need an amp for ive got a pair of dt-990's right now because i like open back more than closed back and they are awesome" Totally typed 160 ohm, didn't I? Right, meant 250. That being said, it surprised me after I looked it up on Amazon. I got my 80-ohm pair for $199 at Guitar Center brand new. Even now, they're $225, so if you happen to catch them on sale or with a coupon, they'd probably drop down to that price range. Though the M-50's are still probably the better value overall. Those things dropped quite drastically in price over the past couple years; now you can get a pair brand new for $135 from Newegg. And I've always wanted to listen to a pair of DT 990's, just to see how they sound.
Masochist 01.23.14	"this list is generally about what I listen to, would the ath-m50s be alright for like screamo, metalcore, hardcore, post hardcore type stuff?" I think you'd be fine with them for this type of music.
Hyperion1001 01.23.14	the dt-990s are very flat (which i like) but the soundscape is gigantic, sounds like listening to music in a room in your head but i do want a pair of bassier phones for hip-hoppin and stuff
SpottedTrout 01.23.14	Can't speak for any other quality headphones for comparison, but I've got a pair of AKG 240 too and they're great
Balerion 01.23.14	I just got myself a pair of ATH-M50s a week ago and I listen to a lot of different music and I love them... worth every penny
Masochist 01.23.14	"the dt-990s are very flat (which i like) but the soundscape is gigantic, sounds like listening to music in a room in your head" Oh, man, that must be awesome. I have to use a program on the computer to artificially increase the soundstage of my DT-770s (granted, it isn't bad to begin with). I thought about getting open-backed headphones for just that purpose, to be able to hear my music more naturally. "but i do want a pair of bassier phones for hip-hoppin and stuff" STORY TIME: When I was looking for a replacement for my M50s, I did a week-long, side-by-side test of Ultrasone Hi-Fi 580s and DT 770s. What I found was that the 580s reached super damn low and produced bass where I didn't even know there was any. And it's clean bass, not super-rumble bass. DT 770s also dig deep, but not quite 580 deep. But not only did the 770s provide more mids, they also were easier on my ears when it came to the highs--the Ultrasones actually hurt when I wore them too long because of the treble. Long-story short--I'm a DT 770 owner. And I love them for the deep-but-clean bass they provide. I've always wanted to try some other bass-heavy headphones, though, as recommended by Head-Fi: ATH 700pro MKIIs, M-Audio Q40s, and (when I get enough money and have the will to go through with it) Denon D2000s.
dixoncocks 01.23.14	Share the wealth and just buy some nice speakers.
Hyperion1001 01.23.14	yeah im really considering going with a different brand for my next pair because i like experimenting, but those dt-770's are very, very tempting. only time will tell.
Alondite 01.23.14	It's going to depend entirely on how much you want to pay. Just don't get a pair of ATH-M50. They are nice headphones, but have long since been surpassed in the price bracket. Under $200, there are few headphones that can even compete with the VSonic GR07. The HiFiMan RE- 262/272 are exceptionally, but very, very rare these days. The Fischer Audio DBA-02/Brainwavz B2 are outstanding, as are the Rock-it-Sounds R50. If you're spending $200 or less and aren't getting one of those headphones, you're wasting your money. If you're willing to spend a bit more, the Beyedynamic DT880 is great (and much better than the DT770 or 990), as are the Audio Technica AD900 (and 900X) and AKG Q701. I personally recommend the HiFiMan HE-400. They are the cheapest planar magnetic headphones available, and along with the Sennheiser HD600, are the cheapest headphones in the world that deliver true high fidelity audio, and probably offer the best cost:performance ratio of any headphones in the world.
Dunpeal 01.23.14	anything but beats
EyesWideShut 01.23.14	I have DT880's and paired with a nice amp with NOS tubes they really are amazing. But I still have a soft spot for my Grado's for when I want to jam something heavy. Cant beat em for 100 bucks imo.
Masochist 01.23.14	"Under $200, there are few headphones that can even compete with the VSonic GR07. The HiFiMan RE- 262/272 are exceptionally, but very, very rare these days. The Fischer Audio DBA-02/Brainwavz B2 are outstanding, as are the Rock-it-Sounds R50. If you're spending $200 or less and aren't getting one of those headphones, you're wasting your money. If you're willing to spend a bit more, the Beyedynamic DT880 is great (and much better than the DT770 or 990)," Soooooo many things wrong with what you wrote here, though worst is that you assume to know exactly what the gentleman's looking for when it comes to his ears. They make different types of headphones for a reason--because people have different listening tastes. In my case, I tend like a darker-toned sound, and so for me, 770's were the logical choice over the other BD's in that price range (sadly, I bought mine before the Custom One Pro came out). He also said in the description that he's looking for over-ear phones, not in-ear phones.
Alondite 01.23.14	Audio fidelity is measureable and objective. When it comes to those measures, those headphones perform the best. That doesn't necessarily mean that anyone will automatically like them better, but when evaluating headphones you need to be objective. The best way to buy is to find a set a headphones with good fidelity, and then go with the pair that fits your preference. The GR07 are warm and bassy, the RE262/272 closer to neutral with a touch of darkness, and the DBA-02 and R50 are leaner, brighter sets. I covered all but the most picky sound preferences without sacrificing fidelity. The DT770 has very uneven, nonlinear bass with transitional issues and a piercing, overly bright treble. They have quick attack and decent distortion values, but have terrible decay and resonances. The headphones I listed don't have engineering issues like that. I see that he's looking for over-ear headphones, but under $200 there really aren't very many good ones; IEMs fare better in that range. Full-sized sets don't really start to take off until about $400 with the HE-400 and HD600, though there are a few good ones.
Masochist 01.23.14	"when evaluating headphones you need to be objective. " I can't agree. Audio output can be objectified, yes, but the enjoyment you get out of them is subjective. Headphones, like music, are enjoyed on a person-to-person basis, and even when choosing blindly without ever hearing them, you're far better off by what each pair is known for excelling at, and matching that with what you hope to achieve with your music-listening. If someone wants fart-cannon bass, then give 'em XB500's...not the flattest, or the most natural, or the clearest headphones for $50, but the certainly the best for what people who want thumping bass are looking for. "DT770 has very uneven, nonlinear bass with transitional issues" Also disagree. The 770's are known for their fantastic bass response, especially the low-impedance versions, and that's something I can attest to personally. The 250 ohm version, most issues can be resolved by a (necessary anyhow) headphone amp. I personally also have an issue with overly-bright highs, which is something I heard (and hated) on the Ultrasones HiFi 580's, but certainly not in the 770's. "I see that he's looking for over-ear headphones, but under $200 there really aren't very many good ones; IEMs fare better in that range." The problem with this is that it's like telling someone who's looking for a new brand of beer to try to switch over to wine. IEM's offer a different listening experience--more detail for the price, but less natural, because IEM's interact with your EARDRUM instead of your EAR (like the difference between listening to yourself in your head and listening to a recording of yourself). And depending on what you're looking for and how far you're willing to go to get that PERFECT sound, you may never have to break out of the
Masochist 01.23.14	$200 range for headphones. Just depends on how satisfied you are with your listening equipment vs. how much you're willing to spend to make it better.
Alondite 01.23.14	"I can't agree. Audio output can be objectified, yes, but the enjoyment you get out of them is subjective." But what does your enjoyment mean to someone else? People can and do perceive headphones in completely different ways, so you need to present facts and let them decide what they think are best for them. "Also disagree. The 770's are known for their fantastic bass response, especially the low-impedance versions, and that's something I can attest to personally. " Compared to what, though? They have issues with pad leaks because they are closed, and the bass response loses linearity as a result. They also have the typical low-end roll off. If you've ever heard something with linear bass like the LCD2, it becomes very obvious that something is off with the DT770. "The problem with this is that it's like telling someone who's looking for a new brand of beer to try to switch over to wine. IEM's offer a different listening experience--more detail for the price, but less natural, because IEM's interact with your EARDRUM instead of your EAR" That's not true. IEMs do interact differently with the ear, but they are no less natural. The soundstage is typically smaller and more "in-the-head," but tonally they are capable of sounding just as natural as full-sized cans. The JH13s prove that single-handedly, and you don't even need to spend half that much to get great-sounding IEMs.
Masochist 01.23.14	"The soundstage is typically smaller and more "in-the-head," but tonally they are capable of sounding just as natural as full-sized cans. The JH13s prove that single-handedly," Those are super high-end, though; for that price, I had better damn well prefer them to actually hearing the musician perform in front of me. The same is true for headphones at that price, too; I expect that the quality of $1000+ equipment compares to $200 like $200 compares to $10, but we aren't reaching that high, so we aren't expecting that quality. In vehicle terms, he's trading up from a Geo Metro to a Nissan Altima; to compare it to a high-end Lexus is silly, and to say he should go for a similarly-priced sports car is negligent of what he's asking for. "They have issues with pad leaks because they are closed, and the bass response loses linearity as a result." Ahh...isn't that more an issue with open-backed cans, or am I thinking of a different problem?
Masochist 01.23.14	"But what does your enjoyment mean to someone else? People can and do perceive headphones in completely different ways, so you need to present facts and let them decide what they think are best for them." This is 100% true, and something I've been trying to get across for a while now. My initial problem with your original post is that this statement: "Under $200, there are few headphones that can even compete with the VSonic GR07. The HiFiMan RE- 262/272 are exceptionally, but very, very rare these days. The Fischer Audio DBA-02/Brainwavz B2 are outstanding, as are the Rock-it-Sounds R50. If you're spending $200 or less and aren't getting one of those headphones, you're wasting your money." ...is NOT a fact, SPECIFICALLY because people can and do perceive headphones in completely different ways. Not just sonically, but also in their enjoyment. You can say that he'll get more detail from IEMs, and you give specifics about each product that you recommend, but you can't tell this gentleman that he's wasting his money buying anything other than what you've recommended if you don't have his ears; you can't tell him right off the mark that he'll be happier with Product X if he hasn't even graduated from Product A. Hell, there are plenty of people who climb the audiophillic ladder of headphones only to discover that they were happier at the first rung. That's why people recommend the M50's so often--because they're a great baseline to discovering what you like to listen to. "You like them? If you're willing to upgrade, here's where you can go." "Not enough bass? Try these." "Not enough detail? Switch to these." EVERYONE'S heard these things, so there's no shortage of people who have listened through them and gone in whatever sonic direction you might want to go. All I'm saying is, don't try to dictate what he'll enjoy before he's even had a chance to experience it. You may very well end up being right in the end...but let HIM come to that conclusion. Let HIM decide what he's looking for, and what he wants, and what sounds like the best fit for him. And for goodness sakes, if he asks for on-ear headphones under $200, try actually rec-ing him on-ear headphones for under $200.
Alondite 01.23.14	"Those are super high-end, though; for that price," Yes, but the headphones I listed don't actually compete too unfavorably. The JH13 are very clearly and obviously better, but the difference is not as significant as the price would indicate. " but you can't tell this gentleman that he's wasting his money buying anything other than what you've recommended if you don't have his ears" I recommended several headphones with varying sound signatures for that very reason. There aren't any other headphones in that range with wildly different sound signatures, and none that perform better of the same signatures. Price aside, why would you get, say, the VSonic VC1000 over the GR01? They have the same sound signature, but the GR01 is better across the board. "Ahh...isn't that more an issue with open-backed cans, or am I thinking of a different problem?" The physical impact from the bass on most closed headphones will actually break the seal of the earpad on the head and cause FR disturbances. Open headphones release the bass resonances so they don't cause distortion or break the seal; the seal itself, and thus the bass response, remains linear. "That's why people recommend the M50's so often--because they're a great baseline to discovering what you like to listen to." I have trouble recommending the M50 for a first-time upgrade because they have some FR disturbances that can cause sound qualities that are difficult to delineate. For example, someone might not like the bass, but not because there was too little or too much. Because the M50s have some strange goings-on, it might be difficult to find what's causing their particular issue. "All I'm saying is, don't try to dictate what he'll enjoy before he's even had a chance to experience it" Well, I tried to cover all the bases. If he doesn't like any of them, he's going to have a very difficult time finding anything that he does like. I can't in good conscience recommend sub-$200 full-sized cans because they don't offer a very significant upgrade over cheaper sets. I just don't feel that they justify the cost in that range.
TheHamburgerman 01.23.14	Go for a set of Urbanears and a fine whisky, and you're still left with some of your saved money.
Greyvy 01.23.14	spend 250 and get sennheiser hd 598s
Ending 01.23.14	If you're spending $250.00 get AKG K550 headphones. I've been rockin' em for a few months now and I have absolutely no complaints. I've gone through a lot of headphones and these ones are amongst the best of 'em (though to be fair they're also the most expensive ones I've owned).
osmark86 01.23.14	I got a pair of ATH-M50s and they're doing the job just fine. worth the money I think.
Greyvy 01.23.14	ath's cant be beat for their price but don't buy them expecting them to be able to hold their own against quality headphones
osmark86 01.23.14	that may be so, but he asked for something in the $100-$200 range. when I feel I can spare the mullah I might invest in something more top tier.
Alondite 01.24.14	Edit: Half of my comment disappeared. Fuck. I don't feel like re-writing it right now.